Each week TheRams.com will be taking a look at what Los Angeles' opponents have to say about facing the Rams. Heading into Week 3 of the regular season, check out what the Jacksonville Jaguars' coaches and players had to say about their Week 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at EverBank Stadium.
On how difficult the Rams offense is to defend:
"They have a lot of weapons. I think that up front they are solid. Whitworth has been a consistent player in this league for a long time and that continues, Saffold — the guard — is a really good football player, he plays all five positions and can play them all well. The center has done a nice job, he's a big-time vet, and the left side has played well. You take a back like Todd Gurley back there, he's one of the best running backs in the NFL. Same type of situation, I mean he's good with the ball in his hand, he's good running routes now and he's not a sit-down, run it to the flat guy. They can run him vertically down the field. He has excellent touch, he has excellent speed, and he has explosion, so he's very difficult. And then you go around, they have the three tight ends. Gerald Everett, who's probably the third tight end, is a really good vertical threat down the field."
"Obviously I have experience with Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods. They both were with me before, I think they're both outstanding obviously. Sammy's explosive and can make a lot of plays. Robert is tough as hell, someone that is very competitive and makes a lot of plays for them. And they've got the rookie, with Kupp in there, he has done a nice job and made some plays. And the quarterback is playing extremely well. So it's like a scenario that doesn't change: a lot of weapons, a lot of people to stop. It makes it difficult. You know Tavon Austin's in there, I played against him when he was at West Virginia so I know his capabilities. We have a lot to do and a lot of field to cover against this team. It's a challenge."
- Jaguars HC Doug Marrone
On if he is looking forward to playing against Todd Gurley:
"Oh yes, I am looking forward to it. In college, I couldn't hit him in Spring, so this will be the first time I really get to hit him, hit him. So I'm looking forward to hitting him often and letting him know."
- Jaguars' DT Abry Jones
On what make Gurley such a special player:
"I mean he is very special. When he came in as a freshman, we knew he was good and then the first game of the year, his first college play he took a kickoff return to the house. I always knew he was a good back, but I didn't know how fast he was until that play. Once I saw how fast he was and his vision and the way he handled himself. He's very humble about it. That's just one of the things that draw you to Todd and he's just a great player on top of that."
- Jaguars' DT Abry Jones
On facing a Wade Phillips defense:
"I've been facing Wade for years and years and it's always been difficult, it's always been tough. I think that when you look around, you talk about — and we've had these discussions before — you talk about a Coach LeBeau, he's been around for a long time, he's been extremely successful. You know coach Phillips is right there. You can argue who's better and who's not, but to me they are both pain in the butts and hard to get ready for. They're going to be sound, they're going to tackle well, they're going to be able to get to the quarterback, they're going to be able to play coverage. And every time that I have faced coach Phillips, that unit has played extremely hard. He puts them in great position and puts them in position to make plays. I have all the respect in the world for him, I think he's an outstanding coach."
- Jaguars HC Doug Marrone
On if/how Aaron Donald can wreck a game:
"Yeah, definitely. He's an extremely good football player so he is someone you have to account for and make sure that he is taken care of because he can really wreck a game."
- *Jaguars' QB Blake Bortles *
On whether Mark Barron is a hybrid player for the Rams:
"He's definitely 100% committed to linebacker so he's down there, he's in the box a lot. He's a really good athlete, obviously he kind of sticks out wearing 26 down there in the box, but you see why he used to play safety. He has that athletic ability and then he's obviously just put on size and I think that's a bit of the reason for moving him down there. Both those guys are good, him and Alec Ogletree are both really good guys."
- *Jaguars' QB Blake Bortles *
On whether he likes to challenge young safeties like John Johnson III:
"I think each case or scenario is different. There are times where you do go after certain people, and I think there's times where you kind of just dial it up within the plays and within the progressions or there's also times where you go through your read and you don't even worry about it. If you throw at him, you throw at him, if you don't, you don't. We're obviously still waiting to see who is going to play, if it's going to be Joyner or the young kid. We have to plan according to that."
- *Jaguars' QB Blake Bortles *
